George Rebane
Reading this morning’s (28apr22) Union, I was both startled and disappointed when I came to the paper’s weekly Hits & Misses column (here). Publisher Don Rogers usually places his contributions at the bottom, and there we saw –
MISS (from Publisher Don Rogers): To the kind of free speech as uttered by bullies, liars, abusers, propagandists, trolls, rumor-mongers, gossips and other asses lurking in social media, including the new owner of Twitter.
Now, it’s been no secret for decades that there is a great asymmetry between the reportage from our neighbors on the Left and Right. (The published literature on that could fill a library.) We have covered this phenomenon going on 15 years now. Recent leftwing journalistic atrocities include the multi-year unabashed and still ongoing reporting of the Great Russian Collusion for which there is not a shred of evidence. In a similar vein, material events of national importance are thoroughly buried in what is now correctly known as the lamestream media. An example of that is the Hunter Biden laptop scandal which revealed influence peddling that included payoffs to the “Big Guy” principal, now in the White House, whose influence was peddled.
Such evidence-free, evidence-hiding journalistic behavior is to be expected in the national press, but not so much from local outlets in markets where the writers and readers know each other. This is why I was surprised to read Don’s pre-emptive swipe at Elon Musk.
Readers may recall that I consider Don Rogers a respected friend, among the many I have on the port side. However, his published Miss is so out of character of the man I know on two counts. First, Musk’s stated intentions to open up Twitter to uncensored free speech should be welcomed by all who support our First Amendment, especially those who supposedly deal in ‘Truth’ as journalists claim in their code of ethics. And second, Musk has yet to do anything at Twitter that would justify anyone to categorize him on Roger’s list of misfit communicators. So why launch such a pre-emptive editorial attack that looks so much like gratuitous pandering to the county's growing progressive faction?
In expressing all this consternation, I am reminded that The Union is a privately owned enterprise, and has wide latitude in what kind of news and editorial content it is free to publish. I don’t think that the above Miss crossed any libel lines, but I do think that Don Rogers does step over the bounds of editorial prudence when he joins the ranks of the country’s leftwing lemming chorus, all howling their imagined portents of Elon Musk single-handedly about to bring American democracy to an end by opening up Twitter to free speech.
Addendum: Leftwing journalism cannot survive as a co-equal in an open market of ideas. In such an environment, collectivist thought withers away into a dry shell of an echo, infrequently encountered and never taken seriously by those open to the greater wash of ideas that inundate the public square. This is to be corroborated by the establishment of a very visible crutch that will henceforth support the already limping lamestream. The Biden administration will seek to ensconce a permanent Ministry of Truth (aka Disinformation Governance Board) to oversee and variously censor ideas, opinions, happenings, and facts that counter the neo-Marxist narrative of socialism that has become the dissonant chorus from the Left. (more here and here) The leader of these quenchers of free speech will be Nina Jankowicz, a renown incompetent in all but partisan zealotry, which she has demonstrated throughout her career (more here). This woman is the carefully chosen poster-child for fettered discourse in the land.
"So why launch such a pre-emptive editorial attack that looks so much like gratuitous pandering to the county's growing progressive faction?"
Rogers let his freak flag fly free, being shocked the Barbarian bought the twits out.
Me, the day of the purchase I signed up at Twitter for the first time. I don't worship Musk but I do admire his ability to get huge sums of Other People's Money to pursue harebrained schemes ... and make them work.
Posted by: Gregory | 28 April 2022 at 12:01 PM
Rogers let his freak flag fly free
Just shows ya what a deep cord Elon struck. Even Boardman jumped over here to splash cold water instantly on any Musk as Liberator talk. Twitter is their safe place. And no it does not feel safe and may never feel safe again! Wailing and gnashing of teeth.
They are scared shitless that Musk may throttle down accounts, shadow ban folks and even ban some candidates. The horrors. Musk might do the same thing to the thieves that they have been doing to any and all contraire viewpoints out of Syc with the control freaky empowered.
How do you make a thief scream bloody murder? A: Rip ‘em off.
We have been told, and righty so, that free speech does not extend to a private company, only government is barred from restricting free speech. Ok, I accept that. But, imagine if you will, a private company that models its free speech policy on government prohibitions as found in the 1st Amendment. That, dear reader is what the Left calls a threat to our democracy.
All the small podcasters and folks with a few hundred thousand followers say in unison that they checked their hits every so often and suddenly they have 17% more hits out of the blue than last time they checked. Odd. Something about the number 17% across the board. Must be Twitter’s pre-emotive strike against charges of shadow banning and possible embarrassing exposure.
Milo, come on down!
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 28 April 2022 at 09:23 PM
Leftwing journalism is correct.
Did you know the ‘trending of Twitter’ is not based on any algorithm. Twitters have paid writers who read 3 or four angry pissed to the max posts on a reply to someone boycotting an advertiser or person and run with the trending story. Backlash against so-and- so and take them down.
The Woke journos nowadays read the trending news and get their cues of what to lead with. Move over NYT, Twitter leads, you follow.
That is why the overreaction to Musk buying Twitter. And Don Rogers. It’s the Lefty Media safe place when they look for stories.
‘Trending’ my ass. Based only on what the writers want you to take away, not based on most popular or most hits……..
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 28 April 2022 at 09:46 PM
Yeah, so that's what they're freaking out about - the algos or how they're formulated or how they're used.
OMG! We can't let the great unwashed see all of this!
Once again we see that the rats and cockroaches will scurry about when the light gets turned on.
Of course nit wits like Don Rogers decry "rumor-mongers, gossips and other asses..." while spreading gossip and rumors about Musk.
Good going Rogers - talk about a complete lack of self awareness.
Posted by: Scott O | 28 April 2022 at 09:59 PM
Leftwing journalism:
MEDIA DOING ITS PART TO PROP UP BIDEN
Today we discovered that the Biden Administration has reached the “stag” part of stagflation, with a first quarter negative economic growth rate. One more quarter qualifies as a recession, but I am sure Biden will call it some kind of “growth recession” or something.
The media has been stepping up for months to prop up Biden’s overstimulated but underperforming economy. This deserves its own headline gallery.
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2022/04/media-doing-its-part-to-prop-up-biden.php
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 28 April 2022 at 10:39 PM
WOW: Elon Musk Says ‘The Far Left Hates Everyone, Themselves Included’
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/free-speech/joseph-vazquez/2022/04/29/wow-elon-musk-says-far-left-hates-everyone-themselves
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 29 April 2022 at 09:52 AM
I remember not long ago Rogers himself was censoring comments (carefully claiming it was editing, not censoring) alluding to the theory that the Wuhan SARS was an escapee from the lab which (shazzam!) was a very short walk from the "wet market" the Left was blaming.
I suppose he may have been getting his clues about the political correctness of such things from the Twits.
Posted by: Gregory | 29 April 2022 at 01:41 PM
New Toy
https://mobile.twitter.com/WholeMarsBlog/status/1519867119185252352/photo/1
Posted by: Gregory | 29 April 2022 at 01:52 PM
Don Rogers. Lol. A "journalist" that supports censorship. Why am I not shocked?
Posted by: Barry Pruett | 29 April 2022 at 02:00 PM
Only clowns support censorship. Rogers? Clown.
Posted by: Barry Pruett | 29 April 2022 at 04:26 PM
It's Repressive Tolerance 101, Barry. Marcuse set the rules in the '60's.
Posted by: Gregory | 29 April 2022 at 05:10 PM
These progressives who advocate censorship are ass hats. It is so obvious even Bill Maher knows it. Don Rogers. 🍑🎩
Posted by: Barry Pruett | 29 April 2022 at 08:08 PM
One of the big rats is fleeing the sinking ship i mean it couldn't be because of what a shit show she was shilling for that has alienated many sectors of the electorate. I bet she uses the term latinx to describe hispanics that pisses them off so much! -
Tobar focused on health care, education, immigration, climate and LGBTQI+ issues for the communications team. She previously served as director of communications for coalitions on the Biden campaign in 2020, doing outreach to Hispanic media, African American media, women’s media and other groups.
https://currently.att.yahoo.com/news/deputy-white-house-communications-director-011153576.html
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 29 April 2022 at 08:39 PM
re: DonB@8:39PM
Is there more to'ing and fro'ing from the administration than usual? I expect the normal amount of shakeups.
Of course, Ms. Tobar will end up in a sweet position somewhere selling her connections with the administration. There's a lot of gold in them thar non-profits, maybe even a corporate board membership or two. It really is salad days for the Democrats now that both large corporations have become woke (lots of protection money to be scooooped up) and millions/billions of dollars have flowed into the race bidness. You've got a nice downtown there, sure hate to see it burn.
The fact that people can bang on about White Supremacy and then work as executives for organizations like this: https://latinovictory.org/ is not lost on me.
Gotta make a move to a town that's right for me
Town to keep me movin', keep me groovin' with some energy
A-won't you take me to Crazytown?
Won't you take me to Crazytown?
Posted by: scenes | 30 April 2022 at 06:40 AM
Barry @ 8:08 pm
Bill Maher Rips Old Twitter, Mocks Trudeau And Gives Shoutout To Babylon Bee
https://www.dailywire.com/news/bill-maher-rips-old-twitter-mocks-trudeau-and-gives-shoutout-to-babylon-bee
Since the Left turns everything they touch into dross, might as well add comedy and humor to the list. As Milo once remarked, the reason nobody invites SJW to parties on campus is because nobody likes to be around them.
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 30 April 2022 at 07:02 AM
I suppose it is only natural that we move from Leftwing Journalism to the new and improved ministry of truth. So blatantly 1984 it needs no paper to draw you a map.
Weird Nina Jankowicz, Scary Poppins….the new Truth Minister looks like they just recycled leftwing journalism with a much better singing voice. 2nd video down
DISINFORMATION AND CENSORSHIP
A particularly striking lyric by Ms. Jankowicz goes, “Who do I f***” to be “famous and powerful?” This was, in a way, prescient. Jankowicz has gone on the warpath against those who dare to criticize Kamala Harris. Denouncing those who have mocked Harris on social media, Jankowicz wrote:
“There is much worse, alleging that Vice-President Harris slept her way to the top.”
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2022/04/disinformation-and-censorship.php
————————-
Biden ‘disinfo’ czar Nina Jankowicz ripped over cringeworthy Mary Poppins TikTok
https://nypost.com/2022/04/29/biden-disinfo-czar-nina-jankowicz-ripped-over-tiktok/
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 30 April 2022 at 08:12 AM
People that support censorship (by government or by the public) are not serious people. Goof balls in a clown car.
Posted by: Barry Pruett | 30 April 2022 at 09:36 AM
Our community is better off with a local newspaper, but soon we will only have a weekly supplement in The Bee. The Union is circling the drain while Rodgers puts out regular essays on his poor career choice.
Posted by: Billy Pilgrim | 30 April 2022 at 09:43 AM
Barry 9:36 - "People that support censorship (by government or by the public) are not serious people."
Perhaps, but they are a serious problem for a healthy republic. People like that are a gateway drug for unscrupulous pols to devolve into dictators.
Posted by: Scott O | 30 April 2022 at 01:23 PM
https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2019/11/02/one-less-clown-sundays-comic/democratic-party-clown-car-loses-clown/
Maybe they got a seat in the clown car for Rogers. Lol
Posted by: Barry Pruett | 30 April 2022 at 04:42 PM
people who are afraid to speak their minds are not free people.
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 30 April 2022 at 06:44 PM
Billy Pilgrim @ 9:43 am, April 30
Our community is better off with a local newspaper, but soon we will only have a weekly supplement in The Bee. The Union is circling the drain….
Well, the Union, our Union, is a community asset. Everything and just about everyone in and around the two Gold Rush towns is a community asset. For all I know, you are a community asset too!
The Union is facing difficult times as many newspapers of its size do. Rogers won’t ruin it one bit. I did notice the donate ad link got bigger. Way bigger. :) Long live the Union! For God and Country.
————————
Which has me wondering. Dr. Rebane has always mentioned Don Rogers with respect and a reminder to the reader that The Doc maintains good civil acquaintance relations with our local editor.
Besides Don running papers on both sides of the Summit, I do have to wonder what their (Don and Doc R) last e-mail exchanges were all about….because Don done popped his cork after that, ROFLMAO.
Hmm. The ski towns in Western Montana and the Western Rockies are full of Libs. Especially the Colorado ski towns. Aspen, Steamboat…….just saying.
I am leaning towards blaming Dr. Rebane for the recent clearing of the air on Hits&Misses and perhaps maybe some restless natives getting uppity, loud, rude, crude, unruly, and socially unacceptable all at the same time lately perhaps didn’t help much. It’s ok to blow of stream and clear the air, but it is best to do it without thousands of witnesses. But, I could be mistaken….or not.
Forward Ho!
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 30 April 2022 at 09:46 PM
I spent a buck on The Union yesterday to help wash down a cheap jynnan-tonX at my fave dive bar... only to see a quarter-page advert on the back page of the first section.
Ostensibly for voter information for the upcomin', it struck me as a Natalie Adona campaign ad... perhaps 'cause her name was up top in very large type... the biggest in the whole piece.
There was no attribution for the quarter page infogram, and one is left to wonder who paid for it.
Posted by: Gregory | 01 May 2022 at 08:34 AM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2iUg5Mxb2Oc
Song came on at the gym this morning. In God We Trust.
Posted by: Barry Pruett | 01 May 2022 at 10:07 AM
Gregory 834am - You and Jo Ann picked up on that, and she is following up with DonR about this obvious campaign ad. My remarks are under today's Scattershots. Thanks for your comment.
https://rebaneruminations.typepad.com/rebanes_ruminations/2022/05/scattershots-1may22.html
Posted by: George Rebane | 01 May 2022 at 10:09 AM
You're welcome, George.
I wonder why Adona, with a JD, is running for an office that any midwit could fill.
Posted by: Gregory | 01 May 2022 at 11:18 AM
‘We Are Headed To Hell’: CNN Guest Blames Musk (And Trump) For Twitter Deal In Unhinged Rant
CNN media analyst David Zurawik blamed former President Donald Trump for “opening the gates of hell,” and said that billionaire Elon Musk could not be allowed to “control discourse in this country.”……..
Zurawik was not the only person to suggest that Europe had the right idea when it came to imposing limits on internet speech. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton cheered the Europeans on when they had the chance to impose such regulations just a week earlier.
“For too long, tech platforms have amplified disinformation and extremism with no accountability. The EU is poised to do something about it. I urge our transatlantic allies to push the Digital Services Act across the finish line and bolster global democracy before it’s too late,” Clinton tweeted, adding, “They got it done!” once the measure had succeeded.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-are-headed-to-hell-cnn-guest-blames-musk-and-trump-for-twitter-deal-in-unhinged-rant
Lol. David Zurawik blamed former President Donald Trump for “opening the gates of hell,” and said that billionaire Elon Musk could not be allowed to “control discourse in this country.”
But a CNN media analyst should control the discourse in this country? How about ‘no’.
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 01 May 2022 at 01:26 PM
Do all roads lead to Ukraine or do all roads go through Ukraine?
Nina Jankowicz, who was a disinformation fellow at the Wilson Center and adviser to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry as part of the Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship, confirmed a report Wednesday that she has been named executive director of the Department of Homeland Security’s new panel.
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 01 May 2022 at 02:05 PM
Gregory 1118am - I understand that she may not be the only voter registrar imported (embedded) for the upcoming elections. The Democrats don't have a viable platform, and now have a horrible record of governance. If they lose in 2022, they will most likely be the minority party for several election cycles, thereby enabling a resurgence of the Republican Party. In short, this is now a make or break election the victory in which must be insured by any and all means possible.
Just imagine America with secured borders, viable paths to citizenship for those illegals already here, the return of two-parent black families, reconstruction of community supported law enforcement, parent involvement in the children's education welcomed and enabled with broad school choice policies, ... . If our blacks and Hispanics witness progress toward all this, they will reward the party that will make those things happened.
The alternative is a long cruise up Shit Creek for Dems, so they need all the Adonas they can get into the country's registrars offices.
Posted by: George Rebane | 01 May 2022 at 02:12 PM
There looks to be a valid fppc violation there with her name so big and bold at the top and the seal of the office tucked away at the bottom so its hardly noticeable. Yes it should have come from Diaz not the candidate. The county offices normally put the logo big and bold at the top of the document. Doing it right before the ballots hit the mailboxes is too obvious and heavy handed. Arrogance.
The grape vine has it that Adona is in trouble, so the story is circulating that she went to the dem central committee loudly complaining that she had no volunteers, no donations and no help from the central committee.
Why would she think people would want their name associated with the crazy lady in the videos who will forever be labeled by the Judge as being "marginally rational" hardly a qualifier for elected office. LOL
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 01 May 2022 at 02:26 PM
DonB 226pm - While the commentary here is on the transgressions of leftwing journalism, the Adona ad is more thoroughly covered under the current Scattershots. Your very relevant comment should also be posted there. Thanks.
Posted by: George Rebane | 01 May 2022 at 03:33 PM
I put in both sine there was a thread here too.
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 01 May 2022 at 04:19 PM
You can feel their fear of losing -
MSNBC warns of right-wing extremists weaponizing 'motherhood'
Columnist Cynthia Miller-Idriss also warned about 'fascist fitness'
https://www.foxnews.com/media/msnbc-right-wing-extremists-motherhood
Brian Stelter suggests worrying about crime is part of a 'Republican narrative'
A new poll found that Americans trust Republicans to handle rising crime rates over Democrats by 12%
https://www.foxnews.com/media/brian-stelter-suggests-worrying-crime-republican-narrative
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 01 May 2022 at 04:58 PM
MSNBC Demands Attorney General Indict Trump and GOP Pols to 'Help' Democrats Win
Democrats have "a wonderful story to tell," but they need "help" from Garland and his Justice Department "to "disqualify" the Republican party.
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/mark-finkelstein/2022/05/01/msnbc-demands-attorney-general-indict-trump-and-gop-pols-help
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 02 May 2022 at 09:17 AM
re: Leftwing Journalism.
Today's Dilbert:
https://dilbert.com/strip/2022-05-06
The Dilbert that The Union ran:
https://dilbert.com/strip/2017-05-05
By golly, it's like they've got a time machine going on there.
Oh so brave our local newspaper is, so strong and manly.
Posted by: scenes | 06 May 2022 at 12:32 PM